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Managing Your Finances

Managing your finances is an important component to any financial plan. Along with the protection offered through insurance and the goal setting provided by investment choices, money management strategies help you manage your savings on a daily basis.

From mortgage payments to tax advantaged investing, we can help you manage your money as effectively as possible, given your personal situation.

For Individuals

For Businesses

Saving

Depending on your stage of life, chances are you’ll have a distinct approach to saving. New graduates or young couples have different needs than retirees or mid-career families. But no matter your personal situation, we can help you develop financial habits that will lay a strong foundation for your savings.

Younger individuals and couples have a number of benefits in terms of financial management. Low insurance costs and a long investment horizon, combined with few responsibilities, can make for an excellent financial base. We can help you build on these advantages, while at the same time considering a debt load that might include student loans, car payments or perhaps a mortgage.

Couples planning for a first child enter into a new level of commitment—both personally and financially. Learn how to save for a child through insurance and investment products, such as a Registered Education Savings Plan.

Mid-career professionals typically have higher incomes than younger investors—but they also carry more responsibilities. From mortgage payments to a child’s education, consider a financial plan that balances your needs and obligations.

Retirees have worked hard at their careers, and now is the time for relaxation and celebration. Chances are children have moved from home, the mortgage is mostly paid off and a few investments are coming to fruition. However, income levels may have dropped after retirement. Find out how to manage your finances in a way that allows you to fully enjoy the fruits of your hard work.

In short, no matter your life stage, contact us today to learn how to balance savings and investing with your other commitments.

Tax Advantaged Investing

No one likes taxes. But through the advice of a professional financial advisor, you can access products and services that may help ease the burden. Charitable contributions, life insurance policies and investment products purchased through RRSPs or RESPs can all be useful tools in an effective tax strategy. Working together, we will consider your personal situation and design a plan that fits your needs.

Choose from a variety of products and services, such as:

Income-splitting for spouses or common-law couples.

Charitable donations, which benefits important not-for-profit work and allows donors to maximize tax credits.

Life insurance products that build tax-advantaged capital for retirement.

Investment products that provide for tax benefits, such as those purchased through RRSPs or RESPs.

Contact us today to learn more about tax-planning products and services that are specifically tailored for your needs.

Succession Planning

Preparing for succession after death is a difficult issue to discuss, but it is also an important part of any comprehensive financial plan.

We can help you and your loved ones approach succession planning in a constructive manner that helps ensure they avoid problems and are well cared for in the event of your death. The process involves two main considerations: life insurance and preparing a will.

Life insurance can ease the financial burden and provide security for your loved ones in the event of your death. A lump-sum payment can be used for mortgage costs or to supplement lost income, helping your successors during a difficult period. Planning for financial security and stability can make it easier to cope with the loss of a loved one.

A written will provides a means to guide your loved ones through the succession process. By naming your executors and providing instructions on the distribution of your estate, your surviving loved ones avoid having to guess your wishes. Rather than provincial law determining how your assets are to be divided—a situation that can result in lengthy court proceedings—a clear, carefully considered written will provides clear instructions to your successors. Save your loved ones the stress of dealing with financial issues by planning for your succession while you are alive. Contact a qualified attorney to help you with your will.

Mortgages

Buying a home can be one of the most exciting purchases of your life—but it is also a big decision that will have a major impact on financial planning. Whether you’re looking at a one-bedroom condominium or a five-bedroom house, we will work with you to help plan a mortgage strategy that fits your needs and considers your other financial responsibilities.

From choosing the right time to buy a house to deciding whether it is even a good idea, we can help guide you through this important decision. By assessing all the costs involved - from taxes to renovations - we will work with you to determine whether taking out a mortgage makes sense for your budget.

If you are considering taking out a mortgage, contact us today to discuss how doing so can effect your financial strategies.

Financial Planning for Business Owners

Business owners face unique challenges—and opportunities—in terms of financial planning. It takes hard work and careful planning to develop ideas into a successful business: continue that tradition by choosing a financial planning strategy that takes advantage of your unique situation.

For business owners who are considering moving to self-employment, a comprehensive plan can help with the adjustment from a situation where a previous employer might have provided benefits, such as health or life insurance or a company pension.

For new business owners, a financial planner can help negotiate a bank loan or line of credit to help fund office space, materials and other business investments. Explore options to most effectively secure these start-up expenses.

No matter what stage of growth your business is in, contact us today to help design a tax-efficient business planning strategy.

Business Succession Planning

You worked hard to develop a business, and now is time to enjoy the results. Many entrepreneurs spend years of focused effort building up a business, but then fail to consider how to make the transition to retirement. A financial advisor can offer advice in how to plan an effective business succession strategy.

Entrepreneurs can work to turn equity in the business into capital that can be used to fund retirement. A financial advisor can help business owners with tax-effective retirement strategies, such as using life insurance policies.

Life insurance is another consideration when planning business succession. If the founder is nearing the end of his or her life, a well-planned life insurance policy can help successors transition into business owners. Upon death, successors face estate taxes on business values of more than $500,000—with the tax-free amount potentially offset by any capital business losses the owner declared during his or her lifetime. Life insurance is one way that successors can cover the remaining amounts.

Smaller businesses may not need to pay estate taxes, but can still benefit from a plan that helps ensure an equal legacy for their successors. A financial advisor can help entrepreneurs plan an inheritance that is fairly distributed among all loved ones.

Securities offered through AXA Advisors, LLC (NY,NY 212-314-4600), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory products and services offered through AXA Advisors, LLC, an investment advisor registered with the SEC. Annuity and insurance products offered through AXA Network, LLC and its insurance agency subsidiaries. AXA Network, LLC does business in California as AXA Network Insurance Agency of California, LLC and, in Utah, AXA Network Insurance Agency of Utah, LLC. AXA Advisors and its affiliates do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals may transact business and/or respond to inquiries only in state(s) in which they are properly registered and/or licensed. The information in this web site is not investment or securities advice and does not constitute an offer.

Reflection Financial Strategies, LLC is not a registered investment advisor and is not owned or operated by AXA Advisors or AXA Network.

Retirement Planning Specialist title is awarded by AXA Advisors, based upon the successful receipt of a Certificate in Retirement Planning, Wharton. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete the CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. The CLU®, ChFC®, Chartered Life Underwriter® and Chartered Financial Consultant® marks are the property of The American College, which reserves sole rights to its use, and is used by permission.